Absorption characteristics of metal powders for 10.6 &mgr;m CO2laser radiation were examined. Using a calorimetric method, absorptance measurements were performed on four different powder materials, including aluminum, copper, iron, and titanium aluminide. The experimental results showed that laser absorptance depends on powder porosity and material. The measured absorptance values at low laser intensities ranged between 28% and 43%. The titanium aluminide powders showed the highest absorptance values, and aluminum powders the lowest. As laser intensity was increased, the copper and iron powders showed strong signs of oxidation when irradiated in air, resulting in an increase in absorptance. Neither oxidation nor increased absorptance were observed when helium or argon were used as shielding gas. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.